bandman

Do you buy horns without trying them?

I have a rule for myself that I have broken only a few times in my life. I must play the actual horn I’m buying before I buy it. I don’t like ordering horns, even great ones. I did buy my Harrelson without playing it. That was out of curiosity and it turned out being the best horn I have ever played, and I’m so happy I bought it.

I visited Bruce Lee in Houston and fell in love with a couple horns from Eclipse, but they were not the horns I thought I would love prior to playing them. I wonder how differently each Eclipse plays? Knowing, seeing, and feeling the quality of those instruments I’d bet they are very consistent.

I have played only a few Monette trumpets. I really didn’t like most of them, but one was a gem that I tried to talk the owner into selling me (with no luck). I have played Bach trumpets that were amazing, and Bach trumpets that were just hunks of metal that looked like a trumpet.

So if you order a horn you are taking a huge chance, especially if you have custom work done on that horn. So how do you feel about paying for a horn prior to playing it?

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